Cabinet:
(Please note the amended recommendation 4 from that shown in the report)
1. Approved the strategy to deliver three sites under a single design vision, the considered sites include Farnham and Hilldene district town centre District Centre, Chippenham Rd and the Abercrombie Hostel sites and the former Library site (“the Combined Scheme”) as noted in Fig 1 where the red line boundary is edged at Appendix 1.
2. Approved the Council-led funding and direct delivery of the regeneration of Farnham and Hilldene district town centre Farnham and Hilldene district town centre, as detailed in paragraphs 10.16 to 10.34 of the exempt Report.
3. Approved the Council-led funding and direct delivery of the Family Welcome Centre and Medical Centre at the Abercrombie Hostel Site as detailed in paragraphs 10.01 to 10.38 of the Report.
4. Approvedthe closure of the existing Abercrombie Hostel prior to the development of the Family Welcome Centre and the closure of the existing Will Perrin Hostel after the development of the new Family Welcome Centre. (Amended from recommendation 4 shown in the report as agreed by Cabinet)
5. Noted the update on the projected costs to deliver the regeneration of Chippenham Road via the existing arrangements with the Havering and Wates Regeneration LLP as detailed in paragraphs 10.01 to 10.27.
6. Noted a HRA capital budget of £45.139 million has been included within the proposed HWR 2021/22 budget to progress the Chippenham Road scheme.
7. Agreed to endorse and recommend the budget of £192.817 million to progress the Council-led regeneration of the Farnham and Hilldene district town centre Farnham and Hilldene district town centre and the Abercrombie Hostel Site, noting thatthe HRA capital programme approved by Cabinet on 17 February 2021, and ratified by Full Council on 3 March 2021, includes the necessary capital funding to progress the regeneration.
8. Agreed to endorse and recommend the inclusion of a budget of £4.602 million to progress the regeneration of a Medical Centre at the Abercrombie Hostel Site and £17.051 million for the development of a new commercial offering on the Farnham and Hilldene district town centre Farnham and Hilldene district town centre within the proposed General Fund Capital programme, noting thatthe General Fund capital programme approved by Cabinet on 17 February 2021, and ratified by Full Council on 3 March 2021 includes the necessary capital funding to progress the regeneration.
9. Agreed to delegate to the Lead Member for Housing, after consultation with the Director of Housing and Director of Regeneration, the authority to approve the Farnham and Hilldene district town centre and Chippenham Road ballot (if required) including any ballot communication plan.
10. Noted the continuation of the extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation programme identified within the body of this report.
11. Noted officers are in the process of preparing an executive decision seeking approval to make application to the GLA for the provision of grant funding to support the delivery of affordable homes on the Farnham and Hilldene district town centre Farnham and Hilldene district town centre and Chippenham Road. In order to accept any funding offer and enter into the necessary formal contract(s), a full cabinet report will be brought forward for consideration.
12. Authorised the Director of Regeneration after consultation with the s151 Officer and the Director of Housing to consider the appropriation between the general fund and HRA accounts of the Council and to implement such appropriation as necessary to develop Farnham and Hilldene district town centre, Chippenham Road and Abercrombie Hostel sites.
13. Authorised the Director of Regeneration after consultation with the S151 Officer and the Director of Housing to consider and implement the appropriation of land for planning purposes, subject to the agreement of the Secretary of State, to facilitate the development of Farnham and Hilldene district town centre, Chippenham Road and Abercrombie Sites and approve an application to the Secretary of State for appropriation under section 19(2) of the Housing Act 1985 (the precise areas of land to be appropriated to be decided).
14. Noted that the Director of Regeneration will undertake soft market testing to establish main interest in the project and a detailed non-key decision on procurement commencement post checkpoint 1 will be provided for formal approval in line with the Constitution and Contract Procedure Rules.